Colin Hay Discusses Males at Work, His Solo Profession, and the Music Biz [Part Two]

Hay spoke to AllMusic shortly after the discharge of his newest solo launch, Man @ Work: Quantity 2, which like its profitable predecessor, accommodates “re-imagined favorites from throughout Hay’s wealthy catalog, together with Males at Work classics, solo album highlights, and new materials.”

So with out additional ado, right here is the second a part of AllMusic’s prolonged interview with Hay.

What do you recall concerning the precise recording of the Males at Work albums from the ’80s, Enterprise as Ordinary, Cargo, and Two Hearts?

“Nicely, Enterprise as Ordinary was very fast and it was nice, as a result of we had a ten day pre-production with the producer, Peter McIan, who sadly handed away fairly just lately. Very unhappy to listen to that information. He was an excellent file producer. He was excellent for us, actually. And we had a technique of pre-production the place in a method, he ‘pop-ified’ the music. We had simplified sure components, and turned perhaps a six-minute track right into a three-and-a-half minute track – whereas retaining the integrity and what was necessary to the track.”

“And once we truly bought into the studio, it was a really small studio referred to as Richmond Recorders [in Melbourne]. And it took about ten days to file – 5 days for the rhythm tracks and 5 days for overdubs. So, it was very fast. We labored fairly rapidly and it was a really cheap file to make. However he was actually the important thing in bringing that album collectively – Peter McIan.”

“Cargo took us a little bit bit longer. We finally launched that album too rapidly. I feel we must always have waited, however water underneath the bridge now. However yeah, Cargo took a little bit bit longer. I nonetheless suppose we had some good songs on that file. Maybe we might have spent a little bit bit extra time on that – we would have had a greater file, who is aware of? However we had been a little bit bit extra skilled and we nonetheless had McIan engaged on that file, in order that was good.”

“By the point Two Hearts got here round, the band was achieved. We did not notice it on the time, however the band was over. And certainly, it was solely three of us left. John and Jerry had been sacked. So, it was Ron and Greg and I, and Russell [Deppeler] the supervisor, and we made the Two Hearts file.

“Nevertheless it was actually the loss of life throes of the band. Ron left midway via, and on the finish of it, Greg mentioned, ‘I’ve had sufficient,’ and he simply went house – and the band was achieved. I feel there’s some fascinating songs on it, however the first two you possibly can say had been the actual Males at Work albums, in a method, due to the truth that these data contained the traditional line-up of the band.”

Enterprise as Ordinary topped the US charts for an unprecedented 15 weeks from late 1982 to early 1983. How overwhelming was the band’s success?

“Nicely you do not notice it is overwhelming. You suppose that you will deal with every part effectively. It is like lots of people, whenever you’re younger…I imply, I might spend in all probability 15-20 years dreaming of getting a profitable recording profession and touring the world. And impulsively, whenever you get that, it is sort of like, ‘Oh, okay, effectively, your desires turned realized.’ After which how do you deal with that? Whenever you’re younger, effectively, definitely, when I was younger, I assumed I knew every part. And it turned out that I knew virtually nothing. So, your schooling about life and concerning the enterprise you are in, and creativity and interpersonal relationships and all these sorts of issues usually occur after you’ve got had success. And that is what occurred to us.”

“We had unbelievable, phenomenal success…after which all of it imploded. And we did not have the communication expertise to avert what, in essence, ended that profession, which was the demise of the band. When that occurred, I’ve to say that I wasn’t sad about the truth that Males at Work broke up. I used to be fairly joyful to be alone. I might spent 15 years alone, and I used to be fairly joyful to be alone once more, and begin once more, and experiment and play music and maintain shifting ahead.”

“However the influence of the band, I feel, has continued over a protracted time period. We solely made three albums, however two that had been profitable commercially. And but, there’s an excellent love for these songs by tens of millions and tens of millions of individuals. For which, I am eternally grateful.”

What do you recall concerning the excursions within the ’80s, when Males at Work was on the peak of their success? As a result of lots of people level to the ’80s as a time of extra and partying. Is it truthful to say that was the identical for Males at Work?

“Yeah. I imply, in all probability not as a lot as a whole lot of bands. However we did our fair proportion of that. I imply, alcohol was my Achilles’ heel. And I spotted that I had an issue with that fairly early on. And I spent about in all probability six years attempting to surrender alcohol. And I ultimately did in 1991. It wasn’t that necessary to us. I imply, we had been extra sort of cups of tea, have a little bit of weed or one thing after the present. It wasn’t a lot the opposite factor – of going loopy.”

What track is the underrated gem of the Males at Work catalog?

“I do not know. I imply, I do not find out about this entire ‘underrated’ factor. I imply, underrated by whom? Who’s doing the score? I do not know. I discover the entire thing about whether or not one thing’s underrated as being bizarre. I feel there’s a whole lot of songs on the data which are which are nice, and I feel that they’re appreciated by [fans]. Y’know, it doesn’t matter what track I play at a live performance, for instance, there’s at all times someone within the viewers who loves that track, and I feel, ‘Nicely, it is not underrated by them‘.”

I personally suppose the track “Blue for You” off Cargo was underrated, and would have been a very good single.

“It is a single now, off the brand new album. I do not know [why it wasn’t a single off Cargo]. I am unable to even bear in mind whether or not it was talked about. I feel that the individuals determined that ‘Overkill,’ ‘It is a Mistake,’ and “Dr Heckyl and Mr. Jive’…I by no means actually cared for ‘Dr Heckyl and Mr. Jive’ that a lot as a track. I by no means cared for it then and I nonetheless do not look after it that a lot. However on the time, it appeared to work, and other people appreciated it.”

What was your tackle the comparisons on the time between Males at Work and the Police? Have been they legitimate or invalid?

“Yeah, I feel they had been fairly legitimate in some ways. It isn’t like we went out of our option to copy the Police. It wasn’t like I began singing simply after the Police got here to the scene. However I bear in mind driving alongside and listening to the Police for the primary time, and I simply needed to pull over and suppose, ‘Oh my God. There is a man that appears like me.’ After which, after all, they turned profitable earlier than we did. And so, clearly the comparisons had are available primarily I feel, due to the sound of my voice. And likewise, perhaps the add9 chords that we used, that Andy Summers used, as effectively. However I do not actually care. When you’re gonna examine us to the Police, effectively, I am going to take that. They had been a implausible band.”

And what was your tackle the lawsuit in 2007 regarding “Down Underneath’ and “Kookaburra” [the latter of which was written in 1932 by Marion Sinclair]? Do you are feeling that declare was based or unfounded?

“Nicely, clearly I did not suppose it was. It was a critical declare, as a result of we went to courtroom for six years defending it. So, it is a difficult topic, however there was a lawsuit which we needed to defend ultimately, as a result of there’s two bars of ‘Kookaburra Sits within the Previous Gum Tree’ and ‘Down Underneath,’ which had been added to the track – innocuously and unconsciously – though individuals discover that onerous to consider. However that is the reality of it.”

“And after 28 years [since ‘Down Under’ was first released], there was a lawsuit, and we misplaced. However I feel that they [Larrikin Music] misplaced, as effectively, actually. I imply, they obtained a really small share – not of the copyright of the track. So, the co-writer of the track continues to be because it was. I feel that it was a declare which ought to have by no means gotten to courtroom. It ought to have been settled earlier than it went via the courtroom system.”

“However they wished 60% of ‘Down Underneath,’ which was a really cynical factor for them to say. They’d greed and greenback indicators of their eyes, and so they went for it. And so, we needed to defend it. EMI, that was, and I used to be sued, as effectively. I do not lose sleep over it. Nevertheless it was one thing that I am going to always remember – or forgive – for that matter.”

How was it touring once more as Males at Work with Greg within the late ’90s and early twenty first century, and did his loss of life in 2012 come as a shock?

“Nicely, I cherished Greg. I at all times cherished Greg, and I nonetheless love Greg. So, I cherished touring with him from ’96 till 2002 [which spawned a live album, 1998’s Brazil]. However he was struggling a bit throughout that point. However we had some nice exhibits, we had some nice excursions. And I feel when he handed away, it was a shock, however I knew that he was in hassle earlier than that. I might go and see him, and Greg was by no means a drinker when he was youthful, however he developed an alcohol factor later in his life. And he appeared sad.”

“And the lawsuit had affected him tremendously. He wasn’t sued for it, however he was the one who performed the road [on the flute], so he felt a duty or a guilt for that, and thought that he’d be remembered for that. And it was horrible. It was simply horrible when he died, as a result of he was an excellent pal of mine and somebody who I actually revered, and he was so good and intellectually succesful. And he was somebody that I at all times imagined that I might develop previous with and snort at ridiculous issues till we might snort now not. So, it is very unhappy that he is gone, and I nonetheless get upset about it after I give it some thought.”

Are you continue to in contact with the opposite surviving former band members of Males at Work?

“No.”

How do you suppose the music of Males at Work holds up as we speak whenever you hear it, or from the followers’ response whenever you play it?

“Nicely, I feel it is actually sturdy. If I take heed to the data we made, it is nonetheless sonically very sturdy, and I feel all of the components nonetheless work. I feel it is music that will probably be round for lots longer than I am round.”

How would you examine enjoying with the present Males at Work line-up to the traditional line-up?

“Nicely, I really like the band that I’ve now. It is only a completely different band. You’ll be able to’t actually examine them, as a result of it is a completely different dynamic. It is a completely different construction. I imply, Males at Work was a band again then, who had been having an try at having a democratic band, and making selections collectively, and all these issues.”

“This can be a band now the place I am using individuals. So, it is a complete completely different factor. It isn’t even actually one thing you’ll be able to examine. However I really like enjoying with this band. I really like these musicians that I play with, as a result of they’re all glorious musicians, and we’ve got a good time touring collectively. So, it is implausible.”

Are there any solo songs on the Man at Work 2 album that whenever you play them, you are feeling might have labored as Males at Work songs?

“There’s a whole lot of overlaps. However I’ve made like, 15 albums since Males at Work. So, it is a whole lot of materials to attract from. The songs that I recorded with Males at Work had been particular to that band. As a result of if I had a track and I might take a track to the band, the track contained everybody’s musicality and everybody’s enter. So, these Males at Work songs gave the impression of that band, as a result of we had been those who had been enjoying it.”

“Now once we play the songs, it has a special taste to it due to the musicians who’re enjoying the songs. However you continue to must have respect for the unique recordings and the unique components and the unique preparations – as a result of that is what was profitable, and that is what individuals need to hear. So, I’ve no downside enjoying these songs.”

“However I’ve solely been actually touring as Males at Work – other than the excursions that Greg and I did from ’96 till 2002. I have not actually achieved any Males at Work excursions – solely since like, 2019. So, it is only a tour right here and there. It is not likely an enormous a part of my life, is what I am saying. Y’know, what you probably did 45 years in the past is nice, and I find it irresistible. Nevertheless it’s not like I get up on daily basis fascinated with Males at Work.”

You simply talked about that in 2019 you started touring once more as Males at Work. Did you at all times personal the identify ‘Males at Work,’ or did you get the rights to it again? How did that work out, that you simply had been in a position to tour as ‘Males at Work’?

“Nicely, it is a nebulous factor, actually. Greg and I toured as ‘Males at Work’ – the identify was like a model, which was sort of floating round there, like a rudderless ship. So, there’s an inner-dynamic that occurs, the place I can go on the market and play as Males at Work. That is simply the way in which that it is occurred. I feel if anybody has a proper to exit on tour as Males at Work, it is me. So, that is what I am doing.”

How would you examine touring as we speak to again within the previous days?

“On stage, it is nice. I imply, technically, it is nice. All of the sound programs are a lot better, and the way in which you’ll be able to hear on stage is nice. I am going out on tour solo, simply myself, and so I additionally exit with the band – the identical band that I’ve now, that’s underneath the moniker of Males at Work. I really like touring with them slightly below my very own identify, as a result of we are able to play much more materials from all of the completely different intervals of various albums. And plus, we at all times play the Males at Work songs, anyway. It isn’t like we by no means play them. We at all times play a number of of these within the set. So, it is not like we do not play Males at Work once we play the solo exhibits.”

“After which after I play as Males at Work, I feel there’s one track we try this’s not a Males at Work track – however the remainder are all Males at Work songs. After which if I play solo, that is a special sort of touring altogether – it is simply me and a guitar and an viewers. And I feel that is in all probability the dearest factor to me, as a result of after I bought dropped by MCA Data, I simply began touring alone, and other people began to come back. Not very many individuals, however they began off 40-50 individuals, and now it is nonetheless not large stadiums or something – I play to perhaps 1,000 or 1,500 individuals an evening after I play in theaters. And that is developed during the last 30 years.”

“And that is in all probability my favourite factor to do, as a result of it is very private, and it simply entails myself and the viewers. The viewers who know what their very own struggles are like, they know what it is wish to stand up on stage and play music. And there is an understanding which occurs between myself and the viewers, which does not occur wherever else. It would not occur with the music trade, so to talk, and even doing what I am doing with you. Y’know, you write about it, and other people will examine it, and that is nice. And I am joyful to speak to you and so forth.”

“However there’s nothing just like the expertise you could have with an viewers, the place they arrive and see you, and so they need one thing from you. And so hopefully, you give them that. And everyone seems to be richer for it. I definitely know that I’m. So, that is actually what’s necessary to me now, greater than the rest – is that feeling of being helpful, and part of individuals’s lives that has some resonance and which means as we speak. Which, is affected by what you probably did 40/45 years in the past – however it’s not outlined by it.”

I might think about additionally enjoying with Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band has introduced a whole lot of consideration in the direction of you as a solo artist and together with your previous work, proper?

“Probably not. The solo factor sits outdoors that in a method, and enjoying with Ringo is unbelievable – as a result of he is Ringo, and he was in the Beatles. However that is a selected factor, I feel. Y’know, individuals come alongside and so they need to hear these previous songs, and so they need to hear ‘Down Underneath’ and ‘Who Can It Be Now?’ And that is sort of roughly what that’s – it is a ‘hit fest,’ and you are a sideman for everybody else. And it is an excellent factor to be a part of. However enjoying solo – particularly enjoying for the final three a long time – is one thing which has simply developed over time, which is its personal factor.”

“There are overlaps with every part – there’s overlaps with Males at Work, there’s overlaps with Ringo, there’s overlaps with the solo factor. However the solo factor is simply sort of, as I mentioned earlier than, pricey to me due to the truth that it simply entails myself and the viewers. Which, it has its personal life. It isn’t depending on huge success or something. It is simply relying on you are going to flip up and they’ll flip up and see you. And there is one thing nice about that.”

You simply talked about the Beatles. How a lot of an affect had been the Beatles on you as a major affect early on? And had been there different artists?

“There have been different artists, however in actuality there was the Beatles, after which there was all people else. My brother turned me on to black music. He turned me on to Otis Redding and Booker T & the MG’s. And a whole lot of a whole lot of music that I used to be unaware of till he made me conscious of it. After which I turned conscious of the truth that the Beatles had been conscious of it, so I assumed, ‘Oh, that is the place all of it comes from.’ I used to be unaware of it earlier than that.”

“However plenty of individuals had been influences as I turned a little bit bit older, like Randy Newman is a big affect. And I really like Joni Mitchell, and naturally Bob Dylan was nice. And James Taylor. Once I began enjoying acoustic, James Taylor and other people like that had been an enormous affect when it comes to the way in which they performed the guitar and the way in which they structured songs and so forth.”

Do you may have another upcoming tasks along with Man at Work 2 or excursions you want to debate?

“I am going out on the street doing a solo tour. Nicely, I am going again out with Ringo after this tour [on a bill with Toto and Christopher Cross], after which I do a solo tour within the fall of the US and the UK and Australia. So, that takes me via to December. So, I am not considering an excessive amount of past that, besides that after that, like subsequent 12 months, I need to spend a bit extra time at house and within the studio, the place I can hopefully do some fascinating issues downstairs with some fascinating individuals. So, that is what I am wanting ahead to, simply being extra at house. Who is aware of if that’ll occur, however that is my plan.”

Lastly, my mates had a debate not that way back: a few of them named ‘Overkill’ as the best track of the ’80s, and a few of them took exception to that. Would you wish to settle this argument for them?

“I might by no means ever declare that myself. However I am very, very joyful for different individuals to make that declare.” [Laughs]